Beware Of Lock Bumping
1/30/2012 6:25:00 AM
Most home owners are very protective when it comes to their house keys. The thought of them falling into the wrong hands can be worrying. More worrying may be the thought that people could gain entry to your home by ‘lock bumping’. You may wonder what lock bumping is and what implications it could possibly have for your Oklahoma home insurance.
Older style, conventional mechanical locks are vulnerable to lock bumping. These locks generally have a pin tumbler mechanism inside which requires the pins to be moved in order to lock or unlock them. Lock bumping involves a key being made which will ‘bump’ the pins in almost any lock of this type. Placing the bump key in the lock and knocking or bumping on the lock cylinder forces the pins to jump and release the plug.
Bump keys are keys for similar types of lock which are filed down to serrated, knife-like sharp edges. Unfortunately criminals can often produce these keys very quickly. The key is then used in conjunction with a bumping tool to gain entry.
The problem with a robbery that was instigated by using a bump key is there may generally be little or no physical evidence of forced entry. Homeowners with these old types of pin lock may be advised to check with a locksmith about the risk and possibly arrange to remove the old locks and have them replaced with more secure locks. The last thing you would want is to come home and find your home burglarized and to have to start a claim through your Oklahoma home insurance.
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Older style, conventional mechanical locks are vulnerable to lock bumping. These locks generally have a pin tumbler mechanism inside which requires the pins to be moved in order to lock or unlock them. Lock bumping involves a key being made which will ‘bump’ the pins in almost any lock of this type. Placing the bump key in the lock and knocking or bumping on the lock cylinder forces the pins to jump and release the plug.
Bump keys are keys for similar types of lock which are filed down to serrated, knife-like sharp edges. Unfortunately criminals can often produce these keys very quickly. The key is then used in conjunction with a bumping tool to gain entry.
The problem with a robbery that was instigated by using a bump key is there may generally be little or no physical evidence of forced entry. Homeowners with these old types of pin lock may be advised to check with a locksmith about the risk and possibly arrange to remove the old locks and have them replaced with more secure locks. The last thing you would want is to come home and find your home burglarized and to have to start a claim through your Oklahoma home insurance.
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